The Irrawaddy Magazine |
UN Security Council Team Visits Northern Rakhine State Posted: 01 May 2018 03:28 AM PDT YANGON — A UN Security Council (UNSC) delegation visited northern Rakhine State on Tuesday to learn about the situation on the ground there. The team arrived in the state capital, Sittwe, on Tuesday morning and headed to strife-torn Maungdaw Township at about 11 a.m. The delegation arrived in Myanmar on Monday from Bangladesh and met with Myanmar officials in Naypyitaw. Daw Khin Nyo, a Lower House lawmaker and member of the Advisory Board on Rakhine State who met with the delegation on Monday, told The Irrawaddy the delegation accused the government of deliberately putting off the repatriation of Muslim refugees and raised questions about the difficulty of the repatriation procedures. She said the delegation was unwilling to listen to Myanmar officials, and appeared unreasonably focused on unsubstantiated hearsay. "Their faces clearly showed that they didn't believe anything we said. They just didn't care to listen to us. It seems that they have been swayed by the accounts of the other side. They only talked about killings, gang rapes, and throwing living children onto fires," said Daw Khin Nyo, who attended a working dinner hosted by State Counselor's Office Minister U Kyaw Tint Swe in Naypyitaw. When the Myanmar officials asked for evidence for the claims, the delegation members said they had heard them from refugees in Bangladesh. The delegation voiced doubts when Myanmar officials said that indigenous people in Rakhine State had also been killed and victimized by the violence there, she said. "When we raised the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army [ARSA], they said that we always discuss ARSA [when it comes to the Rohingya issue]. When we talked about the Hindus killed by ARSA, they said, 'Please show us,'" Daw Khin Nyo said. ARSA launched attacks on Myanmar security forces in northern Rakhine in August last year. The attacks prompted clearance operations by the military, which prompted an exodus of Rohingya people to nearby Bangladesh. Those who fled alleged arbitrary killings, rapes and burning of property by security forces. Before the dinner, the delegation members held talks with State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and military commander-in-chief Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing. Despite statements issued by both sides reporting that the discussions focused on the Rakhine issue, the meetings didn't go well, according to government officials who were present. During the meeting, the State Counselor underscored the country's readiness to receive verified returnees and to cooperate with Bangladesh to expedite the repatriation process, according to the State Counselor's Office. She stressed the importance of Bangladesh officials using the designated forms agreed upon by both countries as early as possible for verification, it said. The Security Council delegation will hold a press conference on Tuesday evening in Naypyitaw. The post UN Security Council Team Visits Northern Rakhine State appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
Ten Things to Do in Yangon This Week Posted: 30 Apr 2018 10:00 PM PDT A Tribute to Thaw Di Wai Concert | May 5 Lay Phyu, A Nge, G Latt and many more will perform. May 5, 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. National Theater, Myoma Kyaung Street. Tickets 15,000 to 70,000 kyats at 09-445139944, 09-5077244, 09-445139944. Together Festival Yangon | May 5 This event is focused on electronic dance music. May 5, 4 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Thuwunnabhumi Event Park. Tickets 25,000 to 90,000 kyats at H-Life Ticketing Counter, Myanmar Plaza Ground Floor, 1876 Call Center. Jam It! | May 4 This is a free show to enjoy music. May 4, 7 p.m. to 12 p.m. The Basement, No. 785 Mahabandoola Road, Lanmadaw Tsp. Book Sale | May 5-6 Papers will be read on democracy and the Fourth Estate and publishing houses will offer discounts on books. May 5-6, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Press, Theinbyu Road. DAT (elements) | May 1-4 Discover installations made of sound, pictures and color presented by Noise in Yangon and Pyinsa Rasa. May 1-4, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pyinsa Rasa Art Space at the Secretariat. Tickets 2,000 kyats for citizens and 10,000 kyats for foreigners.
Comedy Night | May 2 Enjoy stand-up comedy. May 2, 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Jazz in Time Music Bar, G-01 Bo Myat Tun Tower, Bo Myat Tun Street. Free Entry. Books on Buddhism sale | Until May 6 Books on Buddhism will be sold at discount prices at Inwa bookshops. Until May 6, Inwa bookshops. Karl Marx Bicentennial Event | May 5 Papers will be read on the philosophies of Karl Marx followed by a discussion. May 5, 10 a.m. Art Hall. Registration at 09-968509022, 09-979765612 and 09-975299233 White Wave Group Art Exhibition | April 29-May 3 Seven artists portray Ngapali Beach from their own perspectives. April 29-May 3, OK Art Gallery, Aung San Stadium (North Wing). Aung Lin & K Sandar Win | May 5-7 The couple will showcase their creations. May 5-7, OK Art Gallery, Aung San Stadium (North Wing). The post Ten Things to Do in Yangon This Week appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
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